Life brings change… your family grows and changes as spouses, kids and in-laws come in. And, as you go through all these different life stages, sometimes new things become unveiled, new obstacles arise in your life or you make startling revelations about yourself.

Recently, this very thing happened to me, after noticing something I was doing and received a correction from the Lord. And I didn’t even know I needed it! Have you ever had a situation or conviction that just keeps popping up in your life? Like the Lord is trying to tell you something?

What has been highlighted for me recently, in my prayers, through the preacher’s message at church and even just day-to-day observations, is that our culture is so centered around being served.

Everyone wants to be served, fed, cared for, all without giving anything back! We live in a self-service society where there is an expectation that every service should be paid back in full. It’s like we’re keeping some sort of “service scorecard.”

Just look at how advertisements, appliances, movies, popular books all have a bottom-line focus on what you want, what you need, what makes your life easier. Me, me, me, me! The entire marketing premise of our society is based on this self-centered ideal.

The worst part of this mindset is how it has penetrated our marriages and relationships. One day you find yourself – even subconsciously – keeping a record of how many things you’ve done for your spouse or friends and lining it up with how much stuff they’ve done for you. Oh, and the other person’s service has to be provided the way you want and when you want it, for it to count.

“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other.” (Matthew 6:24)

You can’t serve both masters… with God as one master and the other being YOU! If you are so focused on keeping score or what people can do for you, it isolates you from others and from God.

And how does God want to be served? “For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'” (Galatians 5:13-14)

God wants you to serve him by serving others, not yourself. And not because you want service in return. This convicted me recently, when I realized I was totally keeping score in my marriage. And that is so wrong!

Are you more concerned with what other people can offer you, instead of how you can serve God? We need to change the focus of our society and our culture, and it starts with what you can do. How you can serve?

“Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (II Corinthians 9:6-7) Leave me your comments if this message resonated with you the same way! Like and Share it, too! Pass this word on to your circle of influence.

We will be around twice today with The Dani Johnson Show to fill your spirit. Join us at 12 pm ET or 7 pm ET. You can tune into the show on either your TV or radio and please remember you can always stream today’s show right on our website.

In great faith,

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